Seal cutter for bottles



March 17, 1942. w. J. DONLON 2,276,268

SEAL CUTTER FOR BOTTLES Filed July 12, 1941 Fatented Mar. 17, 1942UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ssu. 011M 3 i2 2. no'rnss Walter J. Donlon,Oriskany, N. Y.

Application July 12, 1941, Serial No. 402,209 2 Claims. (01. 30-2) Myinvention relates to a seal cutter for bottles and I declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereofsufllcient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawingin which The edges of the V-shaped knife 5 are ground or honed to aknife edge, whereby to cut the cellulose seal I applied to the neck IIof the like reference characters refer to like parts there- The objectof the invention is to provide a device'that will cut the seal aroundthe neck of a liquor bottle without inJurying the cork stopper. The corkstopper of a liquor bottle is sealed usual- 1y by cellulose wrapperunder which is placed the U. S. Internal Revenue stamp. The cellulose istough and not easily cut by the ordinary knife or by the use of a sharpinstrument which is often used by the bar tender when in a hurry. Atsuch times he is apt to spill the contents of the bottle or injure hishands. The present device can be easily and quickly applied and thecellulose seal cut without spilling any of the contents.

Furthermore, the cutter is so disposed relative to device that there isvery little danger of its cutting a persons hands when using the same.

The object will be understood by referring to the drawing in which:

bottle l2. The extension of knife is somewhat limited, whereby not tocut the cork stopper when the knife is being used.

In using the device it is applied to the neck of the bottle. The usergenerally holds member I with his thumb and forefinger pressing againstthe sides of member land the ends of said thumb and forefinger againstthe cylindrical ends 2, 2 and moves member I lateral towards the bottleneck II in such manner that the V-shaped knife Fig. 1 shows perspectiveview of the bottle I with the seal cutting device applied thereto, partsbeing broken away.

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of a bottle with the I device in sectionapplied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device, somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a central vertical section of thedevice.

Fig. 5 is a plain view showing a modified form of the device.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of the modified form shown in Fig.5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the device comprises aU-shaped .member I in the shape of an open band or open ring member madeof some sheet metal which is more or less resilient, or if desirable itmay be made of a plastic or non-resilient or hard metal. The ends ofmember I are curved at 2, 2 forming cylinders or holding members for theapplication of the fingers of the user. Portions 2. 2 can be used alsofor hanging the device on a hook when not in use.

A V-shaped knife member 5 is formed inte ral' 5 will project between theupper edge of the bottle I2 and the lower edge of the cork stopper M.The knife 5 will wedge itself between those surfaces sufilciently far tocut the cellulose seal I0 but will not penetrate beyond to the corkstopper It. The operator then either turns member I circumferentiallyaround the bottle neck II and at the same time holds bottle I2stationary or vice-versa he holds member I stationary and. rotatesbottle I2, whereby the knife 5 will cut the cellulose seal l0 whereuponthe operator can draw the cork stopper out of the bottle neck II toempty the contents of the bottle l2.

Although the device has been described with reference to a bottlecontaining liquor-which is under seal, obviously it could be applied tomany other uses such as cutting the seal of jars and other likepurposes.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification in which the knife holding membercomprises an open ended cylinder or ring I5. Cylinder I5 may be made ofa non-resilient material such as plastic or hard metal. In the eventthat it is made of plastic, the knife I6 can be either formed integraltherewith as in the case of knife 5 or it can be made of metal. In thislatter instance knife I6 will have its rear edge turned at right anglesas at I1, whereby to form a supporting bracket. A slit will be made inthe side I8 of cylinder I5, the knife l6 projected therethroughand therear portion ll riveted at I9 to letter surface I8 o cylinder I5.

In using this modified form of construction, the operator lowers ringmember I5 down over the top part of the neck II of the bottle I! andengages the knife IS with the cellulose seal III at the location of theupper edge of bottle I! and the lower edge of cork stopper I4 as in theformer instance.

Advertising matter can be placed on the outer lateral surfaces of eithermembers I or I5.

When either knife 5 or I6 cuts the cellulose m1 0, the U. s.Internal-Revenue label 20 which -is underneath the seal will be cutalso.

I anteen cutter ror bottles an open ring Having thus described 'my'invention which I claim as new and desire to secure by LetterePatent inas iollows: V

1'. In a seal cutter for bottles an open ring member having a knifeformed thereon, free ends formed with rolls on said member and saidkniie being adaptedto cut the seal of the' bottle when I appliedthereto.

member and a knife formed on said ring memberby cutting a V-shapedslottherein and pressing the cut portion down at right angles to said ringmembenwhereby to'torm a knife to cut a seal brought incontact therewith.

- avian-man.

